Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!iuvax!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!leah!gmr044
From: gmr044@leah.Albany.Edu (Gregg Recer)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Summer Birding
Keywords: Maine, Mass., Birds! Birds! Birds!
Message-ID: <1938@leah.Albany.Edu>
Date: 2 Aug 89 20:45:33 GMT
Organization: The University at Albany, Computer Services Center
Lines: 32

Yes Virginia, birding can be exciting in the summer!!!  I know some of
you out there may be inclined to think migration is the only time
to think about birding.  Well, there is more to do out there this
time of year than watch newly fledged blue jays beg food from and be
ignored by nearby adults (although this is quite entertaining :-) ).

We've made two short (weekend length) trips in the last 6 weeks which
have really livened things up birding-wise.  Our first trip was to
northern, down-eat Maine.  I'm talking about the northern-most coast
area (Quoddy Head, Lubec, Machias, etc.).  The main object of our
desire was a place called Machias Seal Island.  This little chunk of
rock, about 10 miles off the coast, is a breeding colony for loads of
alcids and terns.  The stars of the show are Atlantic Puffins.
They're really quite amazing to see, although I thought the Razorbills
were more attractive.  Some Thin-billed murres also were present
although they don't nest there.  Roughly 1500 pairs of Arctic Terns
nest on the island as well as about 100 Common Tern pairs.  It's
really an amazing place.  There are several other parks and refuges in
the area that are worth seeing.

We just got back from Parker River NWR on Plum Island, Ma. (near
Newburyport).  The shorebird migration is already under-way.  Highlights
included Hudsonian Godwit, both Dowitchers, both Yellowlegs and
Lesser Golden Plover.  This time of year the fresh-water waders are still
around and we saw loads of Snowy and Great Egrets as well as Little Blue,
Great Blue and Black-crowned Night herons and Glossy Ibis.  A nice change 
from the flock of House Finches we're always seeing at our feeder.

Hope this provides some inspiration.  Email any questions you might
have about directions, etc. for these places.

Gregg